Needle-shogging mechanism for sewing machines



H. C. MOULTON. NEEDLE SHOGGING MECHANISM FOR SEWiNG MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. i0. 1919.

I Patented Nov. 7, 1922.

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Patented Nov. 7, 11922.

UNE STATES Parent creme.

HARLEY C. MOULTON, OF YDORCHESTER MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO ARBETTER FELLING MACHINE COMPANY, 013 BOSTON, IvIASSACI-IUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MAINE.

NEEDLE-SHOGGING MECHANISM FOR SEWING MACHINES.

Application filed October 20, 1919. Serial No. 332,027.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HARLEY C. Moor/row, citizen of the United States, and resident of Dorchester, county of Sui'i'o it, State of li l assachusetts, have invented an Improvement in NeedleShogging Mechanism for Sewing Machines, of. which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawing, is a specification, like characters on the drawing representing like parts.

This invention relates to improvements in stitch forming mechanism for sewing machines and the principal object thereof to provide a novel mechanism for imparting lateral vibration to the needle whereby the machine may be used to produce parallel rows of stitching or adjusted to produce straightaway stitching.

More specifically the object of the invention is to provide a novel vibrating mechanism with means for moving the needle supporting means positively in one direction but yieldably connected with said needle bar supporting means whereby the needle bar supporting means may be locked against movement in the other direction without interfering with the reciprocation of the vibrating mechanism.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for vibrating the needle laterally which may be adjusted to vary the field oi. vibration of the needle.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel and convenient mechanism for vibrating the needle laterally which may be readily assembled and in which any wear occurring upon the parts may be readily but it will be understood that the embodiment of the invention in a machine of this type is illustrative and is not restrictive of its use in other types of machines to which it may be applied.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a View partly in section of an overhanging arm and head of the sewing machine embodying my invention, the takeup and other mechanisms being omitted in the interest of clearness of illustration.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view through the pitman, the cam and gear for actuating it and the bushings for the bearing upon which said cam and gear are mounted, the shaft for said cam and gear being shown in elevation and Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view through the lower end of the sewing machine head and the cross-head to which the bracket supporting the oscillating needle bar is connected.

The present invention relates merely to mechanisms for shogging or vibrating the needle laterally oi the line or stitching and comprises an improvement upon the stitch "forming mechanism illustrated in my prior Patent No. 1,298,246, granted March 25, 1919. The illustration of certain of the mechanisms for actuating the needle and the take-up mechanisms have, therefore, been omitted in the interest of clearness illustrat- .ing the present invention but will be well understood by reference to the prior patent aforesaid.

The sewing machine in general, which is fully illustrated in my prior patent, comprises a bed having a standard rising there from provided with an arm overhanging said bed and terminating in a head which contains mechanism for actuating a curved oscillating needle and complemental stitch forming mechanism and a take-up. The portion of the machine illustrated in the accompanying drawing comprises the overhanging arm 1 having at its end a head 2 containing the needle actuating mechanism which is operated from the main shaft 3, which is mounted in suitable bearings including a bearing 1 located near the end of the arm 1.

The head 2 is provided with a down wardly extending hook bracket 5 in which a rotary hook or looper is mounted upon the end of a shaft which is actuated through a gear 6 which meshes with a gear 7 secured upon the end of the main shaft 3.

The needle mechanism comprises a curved needle 7 which is carried in the head of an oscillating needle bar 8 which is pivoted in the arms 9 of a bracket 10, having a stem 11 which is adjustably secured in a cross-head 12, preferably formed integrally with the lower end of a needle bar supporting lever 13 which is pivoted upon a shaft 14 extending across the upper end of the head preferably in the vertical plane of the line of stitching.

The cross-head 12 preferably is rectangular in horizontal cross section and reciprocates in a slot at the lower end of the head of the machine. One guide desirably is formed by hardened steel block 15 secured to the lower end of the head by vertical screws 16 while the other guide desirably comprises hardened wear plate 17 secured by suitable screws to the rear wall of the slot so that either guide may be removed and replaced whenever an excessive amount of wear takes place, either upon the walls of the guideway or the sides of the cross-head. The stud 11 upon the bracket which carries the needle bar 8 desirably is secured adjustable in the cross-head 12 and by a set-screw 18. This permits the vertical adjustment of the needle so that it may be caused to operate any desired distance from the surface of the work support upon which the work is presented to the needle.

The needle bar 8 may be oscillated to produce the penetrating stroke of the needle in any desirable manner. As illustrated herein it is actuated through a link 19 which is connected at its lower end through a universal joint 20 to a stud 21 projecting lateraliy from the end of the needle bar, the upper end of the link 19, is connected also by a universal joint 22 to a stud 23 extending laterally from one end of a needle actuating lever, the other end of which is pivoted in the head of the machine, said lever 24 being actuated by a link 25 mounted upon a stud projecting eccentrically from the end of shaft 3, as is disclosed in my prior patent aforesaid.

In the construction disclosed in my prior patent the mechanism for vibrating the needle laterally comprised a link'connected at one end to the needle bar supporting lever and at its other end having means engaging a cam which is actuated from the main shaft of the machine. In such construction the needle was always vibrated laterally to the same extent and its field of operation always remained unchanged.

The present invention contemplates certain improvements upon the needle vibrating or shogging mechanism and consists broadly in providing means which will positively move the needle bar supporting lever in one direction with resilient means for moving it in the opposite direction, said resilient means being of such a character that the needle bar may be locked against lateral movement.

A further feature of the invention consists in providing an adjustable connection between the needle bar and supporting lever and its actuating means which will permit the field of vibration of the needle to be varied.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention illustrated in the accompanying drawings the needle bar supporting lever is vibrated laterally by pitman 26 which has a reduced end 27 which passes through an aperture in the needle bar supporting lever 13. The junction between the body of the pitman and its reduced portion presents a curved preferably spheroidal shoulder 28 which engages a corresponding socket in one side of the needle bar supporting lever thus providing the necessary rocking movement therebetween. A helical spring 29 surrounding the reduced extension 27 of the pitman seats in a socket 30 in the other side of the needle bar supporting lever and engages at its outer end a nut 31 upon the screwthreaded end of the extension 27. The spring 29 thus holds the needle bar supporting lever normally in engagement with the shoulder 28 of the pitman. The opposite end of the pitman 26 desirably is provided with screw-threads 32 which engage complementary screw-threads in a socket 33 in a cam engaging member 34. The effective length of the pitman therefore may be adjusted by screwing the pitman 26 into or out of the socket 33. A set-screw 35 seated in the wall of the member 34 may be provided to lock the pitman against rotation when in the desired adjusted position. The memoer 34 is provided at its opposite end with ahead comprising parallel arms 36, 37 which embrace a cam 38 mounted upon a cam shaft 39. The cam engages the flat face 40 on said member intermediate of the arms 36, 37 and diametrically opposite the line of such engagement also engages a cap 41 which is secured upon the ends of the arms 36, 37 by screws 42, 43. This construction provides in effect a cam strap through which the pitman is given a longitudinal reciprocated movement. The cam 38 desirably is provided with a hub 44 which extends longitudinally of the shaft 39, and a gear 45 having a hub 46 is secured to the hub 44 of the cam by a set-screw 47 which desirably passes through both the hub 46 of the gear 45 and the hub 44 of the cam and abutsagainst the shaft 39 so that the shaft is rotated by the gear. The gear 45 is driven through a complementary gear, preferably a spiral gear 48, which is secured to the main shaft 3 of the machine; The shaft 39 is mounted in bushings 19, 50 in bosses 51, 52 which project inwardly from the walls of the head of the machine. The bushing 19 desirably projects slightly beyond the end of the boss 51 and engages the end of the hub as of the cam. The bushing 50 desirably is provided with a conical end 53 which engages bevelled flanges 5 1 and 55 extending longitudinally of the arms 36 and 37. The bushing 50 is adjustable in the boss 52 and adapted to be secured in adjustable position by a set-screw 56 passing through the boss 52 and abutting at its end against the bushing 50. By reason of this construction the bushing 50 may be readily adjusted lengthwise along the shaft 39 until its conical end 53 engages the inclined ways 54, 55 on the head of the pitman member, thereby enabling any wear which may occur to be taken up so that the lateral vibration of the needle supporting lever may be accurately maintained. By reason of the construction described the flanges 54, 55 have a lengthwise sliding movement on the conical end of the bushing while such pivotal movement is permitted about the axis of the shaft 39 as is necessitated by reason of the arcuate movement of the cam engaging head due to its pivotal connection to the needle bar supporting lever.

It will be readily understood that by the construction above described the rotation of the cam 38 causes a reciprocation of the pitman 26 which forces the needle supporting lever 13 positively during its movement in the outward direction, or toward the left as indicated in the drawing. Upon the movement of the pitman in the opposite direction the needle bar supporting lever 13 is forced in the said direction through the spring 29 and in the operation of the machine the tension upon the spring is so adjusted that the needle supporting bar will be vibrated laterally to the full stroke of the pitman 26. Inasmuch as this vibrating mechanism is coordinated with the needle oscillating mechanism the machine is adapted to sew two parallel rows of stitching such as is employed in telling and in padding.

It is sometimes desirable to employ the machine for straightaway stitching in which case it is necessary to eliminate the lateral vibration of the needle. This is accomplished in the present invention by providing means for clamping the needle supporting lever against movement in one direction and permitting the movement of the pitman to compress the spring 29 without vibrating the needle bar supporting lever. A simple and convenient means for securing the needle bar supporting lever against lateral vibration in order that straightaway stitching may be produced comprises a set-screw 57 passing through the front wall 15 of the lower portion of the sewing machine head and abutting at its end against the crosshead 12. By jamming this screw tightly against the cross-head, when the needle bar supporting lever is at the outer limit of its vibration, the cross-head may be locked against movement in the other direction so that as the pitman reciprocates (toward the left in the mechanism illustrated herein) it will merely serve to compress the spring 29 and upon movement of the pitman in the opposite direction the extension 27 will merely reciprocate through the aperture in the needle bar supporting lever. In order to provide a convenient means for setting up the screw 57 it is provided with an enlarged head 58 which can be readily grasped by the operator. If it is desirable to apply a greater force than can be conveniently done by the fingers the head 58 may be provided with an aperture 59 in which the end of a screw-driver or other lever may be inserted to enable a greater force to be applied to the clamping screw 57. It will be understood that the embodiment of the invention disclosed herein is illustrative and not restricted and that various changes in form and construction may be made within the spirit and scope of the following claims.

Having thus described my invention what 1 claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a sewing machine comprising a nee dle and complemental stitch forming mechanism and means for actuating the same, means for vibrating the needle laterally including yieldable means movable bodily with the needle supporting means through which the force producing one of the components of said vibratory movement is transmitted.

2. In a sewing machine comprising a needle, a needle bar and complemental stitch forming mechanism and means for actuating the same. means supporting said needle bar to permit lateral vibration thereof, means for vibrating said needle bar supporting means having a yieldable connection to said needle bar supporting means and movable bodily therewith and releasable clamping means for locking said needle bar supporting means against lateral movement whereby said stitch forming mechanism may be operated alternatively to produce parallel rows of stitching or straightaway stitching.

3. In a sewing machine comprising a needle, a needle bar and complemental stitch forming mechanism and means for actuating the same, means for supporting said needle bar to permit lateral vibration thereof, means for vibrating said needle bar supporting means including a reciprocating pitman having a positive engagement with said needle bar supporting means when moved in one direction and yieldable means carried by said p1tman and acting normally to main tain said positive engagement between said pitman and said needle bar supporting means when moved in the other direction.

4. In a sewing machine comprising a needle, a needle bar and complemental stitch forming mechanism and means for actuating the same, means for supporting said needle bar to permit lateral vibration thereof, means for vibratin said needle bar supporting means including a reciprocating pitman having a curved shoulder engaging a complementary socket in said needle bar supporting means and yieldab'le means acting normally to maintain said needle bar supporting means in engagement with said shoulder whereby rocking movement between said pitman and needle bar supporting means is permitted.

5. In a sewing machine comprising a needle and needle bar, a complemental stitch forming mechanism and means for actuating the same, means for supporting said needle bar to permit lateral vibration thereof, means for vibrating said needle bar supporting member comprising a pitman connected tosaid needle bar supporting member and having a forked end provided with parallel beveled guides, a shaft, a cam on said shaft engaging said pitman and means for rotating said cam and a bearing for said shaft having an adjustable bushing provided with a tapered end engaging the guideways in said pitman.

6. In a sewing machine comprising a bedplate, an overhanging arm and head, a needle bar supporting lever pivotally mounted in the upper portion of said head, a needle bar havin a curved needle pivotally connected to sald needle @bar supporting lever, a shouldered pitman having an extension projecting through an aperture in said needle bar supporting lever, a spring surrounding said extension, means on said extension engaging the outer end of said spring and means for reciprocating said pitman.

7 Ina sewing machine comprising a bedplate, an overhanging varm and head, a needle bar supporting lever pivotally mounted in the upper portion of said head and having upon its lower end a cross head, a guide Way in the lower portion of said head for said cross head, a needle bar having a curved needle pivotally mounted upon said needle bar supporting lever, means for actuating said needle bar, and complemental stitch forming mechanism, means for vibrating said needle bar supporting lever laterally including a yieldable connection and means carried by said head for clamping said cross head against reciprocation in said way.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

HARLEY C. MO'ULTON. 

